Jamaican British

Question 1

Who is the poet?

Answer 1

Raymond Antrobus

Question 2

When was it written?

Answer 2

2018

Question 3

Poet’s life:

Answer 3

• Antrobus was born in London to an English mother and Jamaican father
• He was won numerous awards for his poetry, which deals with aspects of his identity such as his dual heritage and being deaf

Question 4

Form and structure:

Answer 4

• A ghazal, an Arabic verse form dealing with loss and romantic loss
• Each stanza uses two lines, representing his dual heritage

Question 5

Ambiguity

Answer 5

‘Some people would deny’
- Ambiguity in adjectival phrase ‘some people’ shows that he’s judged by various different communities

• Ambiguity in the form his poem is in (Ghazal or rap) reflects how lines between different aspects of his identity are similarly blurred

Question 6

Imperative verb

Answer 6

‘Made me choose’
- Imperative verb ‘made’ suggests his dual heritage is not respected, and he’s expected to split his identity in half to conform to others expectations

Question 7

Use of commas

Answer 7

‘Jamaican, British’
- The comma serves as a physical barrier between the two words, and thus, his two identities

Question 8

Repetition

Answer 8

‘Jamaican British’
- Repetition of this phrase throughout the poem shows how much he dwells on the topic of his dual heritage

Question 9

Techniques used:

Answer 9

Repetition
Imperative verb
Use of commas
Ambiguity

Question 10

Themes:

Answer 10

Relationships
Identity

Question 11

Quotes:

Answer 11

‘The English boys at school made me choose: Jamaican, British’

‘You cannot love sugar and hate your sweetness’

‘Knowing how to war is Jamaican British’

‘Some people would deny that I’m Jamaican British’

Question 12

Poems for comparison:

Answer 12

Kumukanda